Give to Charity, Make a Difference This November

Every month is a good month for giving. Join Everlasting Footprint in reaching out to some of these charity causes this November:

National Hospice and Palliative Care Month (all of November)

Terminal illness requires dealing with an array of concerns and decisions. A hospice worker helps with those decisions, and may provide services such as symptom and pain management, emotional and spiritual support, and grief counseling. Hospice can often be a visiting nurse who comes to the patient’s home, or some patients are be in a home-like clinic, where doctors and nurses monitor around the clock. Hospice patients are usually less than six months from passing away. Most doctors will refer their patients to the hospice, when the time comes.

Some patients stay at a hospice facility for only as long as their symptoms need round the clock monitoring, and then go back home.

Many hospices provide incredible services above and beyond medical help. They often have library spaces for families to sit, talk, and read together. They often have beautiful grounds to stroll, or serene water features. Most patient rooms have spare beds or couches for family to stay. Most hospice centers are non-profit, and depend on donations to maintain their level of service. Many also need volunteers.

November is the national awareness month to become educated on what hospice care works and facilities do. Find a hospice in your area and become part of their important work.

National Anti-Bullying Month (all of November)

Bullying is in the news in recent years. As our awareness grows of “cyber-bullying” and the extent of the problem, everyone needs to be educated on how and why it happens, and how to take a stand against it.

Every Hour: Someone commits a hate crime.

Every Week: 711 young people commit suicide – bullying is a leading cause.

Every Month: 282,000 students are physically attacked by bullies while on school grounds.

Embracing Our Differences was founded in Sarasota, Florida, and uses a unique approach to fight hate. In an effort to educate children about embracing differences, they hold an art contest each year. Students submit artwork and quotes, which are assembled into billboards displayed in a prominent outdoor park. Student artwork is submitted from around the world, including places such as Iraq.

The waterside park enjoys thousands of visitors, including children brought on field trips for anti-bullying activities. Donations help more children to see this project, to learn about the harmful effects of bullying.

American Diabetes Month (all of November)

The American Diabetes Association posts alarming statistics: diabetes is a growing disease that almost 30 million children and adults now have. Even worse, a whopping 86 million people have pre-diabetes and are risk for developing the disease. Diabetes affects so many aspects of one’s health, and it greatly increases the risk of kidney disease, heart attack, stroke, or vision problems. Many diabetics suffer from limb, nerve, and tissue damage that sometimes require amputations.

Monitoring your diet can be annoying, but it’s certainly less-invasive than managing insulin shots. Americans need to understand diabetes risks, and do what they can to prevent the disease by managing their diets first. For some, it won’t be enough.

The National Diabetes Education Program recommends everyone understand the ABC’S of diabetes education. A is for the A1C blood test to measure blood sugar, B is for blood pressure, C is for managing cholesterol, and S is for “stop smoking.”

The American Diabetes Association needs donations to continue research, education programs, and community outreach.

Lung Cancer Awareness Month (all of November)

Lung cancer is one of the deadliest cancers. Affecting over 200,000 people each year, the group at the highest risk for lung cancer is for smokers and people frequently around second-hand smoke. People exposed to chemicals, asbestos, or radon gas, and people who suffer from chronic respiratory diseases such as COPD are also at risk. Genetics or a family history of lung cancer may increase risks. CT scans are now recommended for higher risk groups, so that cancer can be detected earlier, when the chance of survival is much higher.

The American Cancer Society posts information about lung cancer, and the Lung Cancer Alliance works to provide support and education resources. One unique way to make is a difference is by donating the scans of those with lung cancer who have passed away. The scans will be sent around the world to educate or to provide research. They also recruit interested participants for clinical trials for new therapies.

About Cindy Readnower

Cindy Readnower, MBA, specializes in sales, marketing, and entrepreneurship. An award-winning certified Life Coach, business consultant, and publisher at Skinny Leopard Media, she helps writers produce and promote their books. She is a newspaper columnist, author of "Inherited Secrets," and a blogger.

One Comment

Diabetes is one of those diseases which are in the world for quite a long time but
no proper treatment has yet been found. Sweets, junk
food, and sodas are not allowed on the DASH diet. It is important that you do
various physical activities daily so you will not gain much weight.